Elimination of odors from waste material

Abstract

A method and composition for the elimination and control of ammonia odor from organic waste materials by contacting the waste material with a composition containing a deodorizing agent which produces a non-odorous ammonia salt, thereby eliminating gaseous ammonia from escaping into the air. The present invention also eliminates additional odors resulting from putrefaction due to ammonia fixing bacteria.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for controlling and eliminating ammonia odor from organic waste material comprising uniformly contacting said waste material with a composition consisting essentially of an effective amount of an ammonia control component selected from the group consisting of monobasic salts of dibasic acids, and mono-, di- or tri- basic acids, selected from the group consisting of dithionic acid, sulfoxylic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, benzoic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, maleic acid, citric acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, adipic acid, and furmaric acid, wherein said ammonia control component has a dissociation constant, pK a , less than the corresponding dissociation constant of aqueous ammonia. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein said waste material is selected from the group consisting of animal and human excreta. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein said ammonia control component is an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt. 
     
     
       4. A method for controlling and eliminating ammonia odor from human or animal excreta comprising uniformly contacting said excreta with a composition consisting essentially of an effective amount of sodium bisulfate. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein said ammonia control composition is applied to the waste material in the form of a liquid, spray or pellet. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 4, wherein said composition also contains a sufficient amount of an absorbent filler material. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6, wherein said filler is selected from the group consisting of straw, wood particles, ground peanut hulls, ground rice hulls, alfalfa, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, and siliceous material. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 4, wherein said ammonia control composition is utilized in the form of a pellet. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8, wherein said ammonia control composition includes lignin sulfonate. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9, wherein said pelleted composition includes natural or synthetic gums. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10, wherein said pelleted composition includes a pelleting additive. 
     
     
       12. An ammonia odor control composition consisting essentially of an effective amount of an ammonia control component selected from the group consisting of monobasic salts of dibasic acids, and mono-, di- or tri- basic acids selected from the group consisting of dithionic acid, sulfoxylic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, benzoic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, maleic acid, citric acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, adipic acid, and fumaric acid, wherein said composition has a dissociation constant, pK a , less than the corresponding dissociation constant of aqueous ammonia, and an absorbent filler material and wherein said composition is physically capable of being uniformly contacted with organic waste material to thereby eliminate and control odors of ammonia emanating therefrom. 
     
     
       13. The composition of claim 12, wherein said ammonia control component is an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt. 
     
     
       14. The composition of claim 12, wherein said filler material is selected from the group consisting of straw, wood particles, ground peanut hulls, ground rice hulls, alfalfa, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, and siliceous material. 
     
     
       15. The composition of claim 12, utilized in the form of a pellet. 
     
     
       16. The composition of claim 15, including lignin sulfonate. 
     
     
       17. The composition of claim 15, including a natural or synthetic gum material. 
     
     
       18. The composition of claim 15, including a pelleting additive. 
     
     
       19. An ammonia odor control composition for use on human or animal excreta, consisting essentially of an effective amount of sodium bisulfate as an ammonia control agent in combination with an absorbent filler material, and wherein said composition is physically capable of being uniformly contacted with human or animal excreta to thereby eliminate and control odors of ammonia emanating therefrom. 
     
     
       20. The composition of claim 19, wherein said filler material is selected from the group consisting of straw, wood particles, ground peanut hulls, ground rice hulls, alfalfa, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, and siliceous material. 
     
     
       21. The composition of claim 19, in the form of a pellet, the amount of said sodium bisulfate being from 0.5 to 25% by weight. 
     
     
       22. The composition of claim 21, including lignin sulfonate. 
     
     
       23. The composition of claim 21, including a natural or synthetic gum material. 
     
     
       24. The composition of claim 21, including a pelleting additive.